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Monday, April 29, 2013

The best way to clean your oven racks and bbq grills is to place 6 dryer sheets in the bathtub, put racks on top and fill with warm water just above where the rack sits---leave overnight and by the morning, most 'gunk' will be removed; if any remains, just wipe away with the dryer sheets! Works every time :)

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Line the bottom of a pan with aluminum foil. Set your jewelry on top of the aluminum foil. Make sure it actually touches the aluminum. Heat your water to boiling. Remove it from the heat and place it in your sink in a large bowl. Then, add about one cup of baking soda for each gallon of water. (If you need only half a gallon of water, use half a cup of baking soda.) The mixture will froth a bit and may spill over; this is why you put it in the sink.Pour the hot baking soda and water mixture into the pan with the jewelry item, and completely cover it. Almost immediately, the tarnish will begin to disappear. If the silver is only lightly tarnished, all of the tarnish will disappear within several minutes. If the silver is badly tarnished, you may need to reheat the baking soda and water mixture, and give the silver several treatments to remove all of the tarnish.

Friday, April 26, 2013

What an exciting prize we have up for grabs! Right now, you have the chance to win a PERSONALIZED LOCKET WITH 3 CHARMS of your choice from Lucy's Lockets! Choose from a silver, gold or rose gold locket. With Mother's Day fast approaching, this would make an amazing gift to show your Mom just how special she is - OR how about showing off who is important in YOUR life as a Mommy. What about a Teacher gift or showing off you are a SURVIVOR??? The sky's the limit with these beautiful jewelry pieces!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

So you are doing a load of laundry, and you come across one of your brand new shirts only to find the tag inside has a symbol on it that leaves you completely clueless. This used to happen to me more often than not...thatbis until I came across this wonderful and useful chart that has pretty much every symbol imaginable!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

1. Put frozen fish in a dish of milk to thaw. This improves the flavor and texture so that it tastes like fresh caught fish.

2. Facial Mask – milk has moisturizing properties that you can use for a facial mask. Prepare half a cup of milk powder then add a little water. Stir the mixture until you have a thick paste. Spread the milk facial mask on your face and leave it on for 30 minutes. Wash your face and rinse. Your skin will feel softer.

3. Dab milk onto mild sunburn for a cooling effect and will prevent further damage. Mix powdered milk with water and 2 pinches of salt. Apply to burn.

4. Boost the flavor of corn. Pour some milk in water and boil. Drop the corn in the boiling milk/water mixture. Leave it in the pot until the mixture boils. Cook corn for as long as you normally, would. You will notice a sweeter taste.

5.Makeup remover and face cleanser. Make a thick paste of powdered milk and water as a make-up remover. Rinse well after removing the paste.

6. Liquid milk cleans patent leather to a shine. Rub it with a little milk on a soft cloth. Allow to dry and then buff them.

7. Relief for Insect Bites – Milk, relieves the itch and swelling of insect bites. Make a solution of milk, water and salt, and apply it to the bites.

8. China Repair – fine cracks sometimes are repaired by boiling them in milk. The milk proteins, will react to the china then turn into an adhesive. Remember it doesn’t always work, but sometimes it does.

9. Furniture Cleaner and Polisher – Mix milk and lemon juice and you have an excellent furniture polish. You can add essential oil to the mix for a fresh scent.

10.Plant Cleaner – You can clean your plants using skimmed milk. It will clean dirt, sap and stains off of the leaves. Rinse it off of your plants after cleaning.

Monday, April 22, 2013

People can easily go overboard when it comes to spending money on groceries! Read the following tips to lower your bill and prevent you from making unnecessary purchases:

1. Create a Meal Plan for the entire
duration of your budgeted grocery bill. For example, if you are buying 2 weeks worth of groceries, plan meals for the entire two weeks.
Read about effective meal planning here: http://www.amumntheoven.blogspot.ca/2012/02/effective-meal-planning.html?m=1

2. In addition to the meal plans, make a list of all items needed and STICK TO IT! Only go down the necessary aisles and do not browse--this will, no doubt, lead to impulse purchases.

3. When making your lists, browse through your local flyers if they are delivered to your home (or you can usually find them online as well). Many people believe that hitting multiple stores for amazing sales is a good idea and will help save them money--WRONG! It is definitely not worth shopping at multiple grocers because of the gas you are spending. Check your favourite store to see if they 'Price Match.' That way, you can get the same featured deal from the alternate store all in one place! Many stores do practise this these days to stay competitive.

4. If you have small children, ALWAYS keep them home if you can. We all know kids can be unpredictable and whine or throw temper tantrums once they spot something they want. I know this firsthand with my son who throws the WORST fits while out, and I admit to giving in sometimes just to keep him quiet! So, keeping them home will allow you to get in and out by only sticking to what you need.

5. Last but not least, NEVER GO GROCERY SHOPPING WHEN HUNGRY! I am, again, guilty of this without even being aware; spending more money than wanting to because so much more 'appealed' to me. Plain and simple, fill your tummy or go shopping AFTER a meal!

Sunday, April 21, 2013

To begin, I always tell people that if something seems too overwhelming or time consuming, to start out small. For instance, try the hall closet first to build your confidence and find what works best for YOU.

Step 1: Begin by selecting your messiest closet and removing its contents. During this process, take a good look at what you have and consider donating or tossing items that have not been touched in years. You have to remember these items are taking up VALUBLE storage space. Be honest with yourself and make the effort to purge the old, the size-challenged, and the "what was I thinking?" . If you can't bring yourself to part with some of these items (even though you know that you should) box them up, put the date on the box and store it in the basement or attic. If you haven't touched the box in one year toss or donate it without opening as this will leave you second guessing your initial decision.

Step 2: Now it's time to put away the items you have decided to keep. As you put things back, keep like things together (for example long-sleeved shirts) and remember to store items based on how they are used as well as their frequency of use. Placement is important -- store special occasion dressings in the back , while frequently worn items should be up front and between shoulder and knee height. I also hang by colour--it may seem tedoous at first, but once complete, it is so nice to find a specific article of clothing easily when you are in a rush! Now, don't forget about the floor space under your short hanging items. Purchase clear containers or the white & clear plastic drawers and store out of season sweaters and shoes (no, not together); don't forget to label, so next year there will be no unnecessary dumping. If you are storing sweaters or non-hang shirts on your top shelf consider shelf dividers; these keep those stacks from tumbling into one another, which ALWAYS seems to happen!

Step 3: Finally consider ways to maximize the space you have. The back of the closet door provides some wonderful untouched storage space. Add dollar store hooks for robes and your comfy sweats or suit jackets if you plan to wear it again soon.Another storage option is hatboxes (or make your own by covering boxes in scrapbook paper); they are great for storing small accessories and look really nice on your shelf or neatly stacked on the floor.

Step 4: What you hang your clothes on really does make a difference. All your hangers should be the same type (yes -- get rid of those wire hangers from the dry cleaners). Replacing hangers can be as costly or as inexpensive as your taste and budget dictate. You can pick up a pack of nice WOOD hangers at the dollar store. You have gone through all this effort to make things organized and this last detail can really pull it all together and looks so much nicer; which will be more rewarding in the end.
I am often asked, "What should I do to organize my hats, belts and scarves" and I always have the same answer--use dollar store plastic shower rings, loop your items through and hang on a hanger. They stay in place, and look so neat when hung in the closet.
There is no need to spend a lot of money on organization when items from your local dollar store are beautiful and serve the same purpose!

Once everything has a place and fits, you are encouraged to keep it organized and clutter free. Maintenance is KEY and will only require minimal effort if completed daily or when necessary. A few minutes of hanging, folding and tossing in the designated basket keeps everything in its place.
I always encourage people to use the rule: if you purchase a new article of clothing, another must go. This ensures your newly organized closet never becomes too full or crammed, which oftens turns back into MESSY!

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Not only do essential oils fill a room with a wonderful aroma, but they are considered to possess certain qualities or serve special purposes when used properly. Find out what your favourites can do for you below:

Friday, April 19, 2013

It sounds silly, but many of us have experienced what are supposed to be simple tasks, but end up being a lot more complicated every time you do it--for example, trying to tear a sheet of aluminum foil out of the box without pulling the entire roll out! Well, check the ends of your aluminum foil or saran wrap boxes for a handy little circle or triangle. If you punch it in, it will hold the roll in the box and prevent it from popping out when you rip off a piece!

Another quick tip - placing your plastic wrap in the refrigerator will make it easier to handle :)

Thursday, April 18, 2013

1. Garlic –given as a dietary supplement makes your animal less appealing to ticks. The smell is excreted through the skin and repels both ticks and fleas. However, garlic contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia in dogs. If you use garlic as your tick prevention, use it SPARINGLY.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar adds acidity to your pet’s blood, making it less appealing to ticks and fleas. Add 2 tablespoons of the apple cider vinegar to the his or her food or water bowl as a preventative.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

A fresh bouquet of flowers will brighten up any room, especially if they last. Surprisingly, a number of household items will help do the trick. Here are a few interesting products and tips that can help your blooms stay fresh longer:

1. Cut your stems with a knife instead of scissors. The gauge on scissors is set for paper or fabric, not for flower stems, which are bulkier. Using scissors will crush their vascular systems and prevent proper water uptake.
2. What you put in your water makes a world of difference!
A) Dissolved aspirin is a tried and true method to keeping your flowers fresh, but lemon-lime soda can work too. Mix one part of the soda with three parts water. Then add 1/4 teaspoon of household bleach per quart, which will help the water stay clear.
B) Lemon juice is another great ingredient to put in your vase. Mix 2 teaspoons of lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of bleach in a quart of warm water. Another 1/4 teaspoon of bleach can be added to the vase water every four days.
C) One of the strangest products that will help your bouquet last is Listerine. According to Plantea.com, just 2 ounces of the mouthwash added to every gallon of water will act as plant food and create a bacteria-fighting environment for the flowers. It's also acidic like many of the other solutions, which helps the water to move up cut stems.

We all know clear nail polish can do a great job on a manicure, but many of you may not know the other wonderful and useful benefits it posseses! It can aid in:

1. Making jewelry last. To extend the life of costume jewelry and to keep it looking bright and glossy, give beads a thin layer of polish. It helps prevent fading and tarnishing. It also helps your fingers turning green from rings!

2. Sealing envelopes. In lieu of licking the envelope flaps to seal them (not only can this be ineffective, but does anyone find that taste as gross as I do?) dab on a little polish to keep them glued nice and tight.

3. Threading needles. Rather than get frustrated when attempting to thread a needle, run the cut side of the thread through the polish brush. Roll the thread between your fingers a couple times; the polish will dry pretty much immediately and the thread becomes stiffer (and much more easy to get through the eye of the needle).

4. Keeping belt buckles pristine. To ensure belt buckles stay bright and shiny, shellac them with a coat of polish to prevent oxidation.

5. Securing buttons. Brush on a dollop of polish in the center of your buttons to keep the threads from coming undone. If you have a sweater or dress with delicate pearly buttons, give the whole thing a coat of polish to keep them luminous.

6.Fixing window screens or shades. If you have a tear or small hole in a window shade or screen, paint on some polish to keep it from getting worse.

7. Waterproofing matches. As any camper can attest, there are few bigger drags than a box of soggy matches. To waterproof them, paint the flammable tips with polish.

9. Avoiding rust stains. You know those rust rings that form on your tub if you leave shaving cream in the shower? Just varnish the underside of the can with a little polish to keep the metal from staining.

10. Shoelace protector. To stop shoelaces from unraveling and fraying, dip the ends in clear polish.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

I recently had the pleasure of receiving a box of Woolzies Dryer Balls to review. I cannot tell you how excited I was to see them show up in the mail two days ago--so much so that I immediately did a load of laundry when I came in the door just to see how they were when it came to drying the items!
I do know about dryer balls as I have purchased other brands in the past when trying to live a 'greener' and more eco-friendly lifestyle, but it is always nice to compare!
For those who are unfamiliar with these products, they are 100% chemical-free, Wool dryer balls that are made from a natural fabric and when you have enough balls in your dryer it does an excellent job of decreasing drying time--BY UP TO 25%!! Think of all the energy you will be saving--music to your ears! Especially for cloth diapering Mamas!
With that being said, Woolzies are by FAR by favourite for two main reasons:

1. Their dryer balls are made from 100% FINE NEW ZEALAND WOOL--the best of its kind! I especially like this because I suffer from skin sensitivity and often become itchy very easily, but I must say that after using Woolzies, I did not have a single reaction! I also feel safe using them in my kiddos laundry as we all know childrens skin is much more sensitive than us adults.

2. My clothes were softer than normal! Although Woolzies promises a 25% reduction in dryer time, I would say my few loads of laundry were done in closer to 45% of the time (using all 6 balls)--BONUS!! Not only this, but I have found after using other brands of dryer balls that static has still been an issue...well not with Woolzies! Ahhh...I'm in Heaven! :)

So you may be asking "How do Woolzies really work?" Well, to get the best performance out of your dryer balls, you should purchase four or more. Aside from the absorbant fabric, the dryer balls bounce through your clothes as they dry, fluffing and separating the clothes, which is how they cut down on drying time. In addition, if you live in a very dry area, you know the static this can cause--and as i previously explained, Woolzies eliminate this problem!
Want to wash your pillows? No problem! The dryer balls are excellent in fluffing them and as they circulate around, they remove germs & dust mites up to 99%! You may have heard and think putting tennis balls in the dryer to fluff your pillows is a more reasonable suggestion--however, the rubber odor can be bad, they do not contain an absorbant material and again, are nowhere near NATURAL.

To answer any further questions you may have, I have personally come up with a few Q & A's:

1. How long can you use the same dryer balls for?
Woolzies guarantee 1,000 loads. On average, 3 years, but some people claim they have used the same batch for 4 years and are still going strong.

3. "I use vinegar to soften my clothes. How are dryer balls better than this natural alternative?"
Vinegar IS great at softening clothes, but it does not remove bacteria or dust mites or cut dryer time. It also does not remove static like dryer balls.

4. How are these any better than the plastic (PVC) ones that I got from my local superstore?
They are VERY different actually! The conventional plastic ones you see on TV and in your local store are made from plastic and when heated can emit harmful smells that can irritate the lungs. They also do not speed up your drying time as these 100% wool dryer balls do. Plastic dryer balls can also rip and tear some more delicate clothing items.

If I am being honest, the only NEGATIVE thing I can say about Woolzies is that they are unscented--but that is strictly a personal preference! An solution to this would be to simply inject essential oil into your dryer balls. VOILA!

***NOW FOR THE BEST PART--YOU CAN WIN A *FREE BOX* OF WOOLZIES FOR YOUR HOME!! JUST SIMPLY FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS BELOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN:

1. You must LIKE Woolzies Dryer Balls on Facebook ----> https://www.facebook.com/Woolzies

2. You must be a fan of A Mum 'n the Oven on Facebook

3. SHARE the contest post on A Mum 'n the Ovens Facebook Page (make sure you are set to share publicly or we cannot see any shares!)

4. Leave your name and email address in the comments under this post so we can contact you if you win! :)

5. Earn additional entries by referring your friends/family to both Woolzies & A Mum n the Oven's pages. Your friends MUST write who sent them on Mum's page so we can keep track :)

Did you know that your body cannot properly absorb the amount of vitamins and nutrients most supplements contain in a daily dose? Your body will purge what it can't absorb (so you literally flush it away).
This one came from Dr. Oz: Taking your supplements at half a dose twice a day instead of all at once allows your body to better absorb all of the nutrients.

Monday, April 15, 2013

If you’re peeling and dicing potatoes for a stew or other dish, you can prepare them a few days ahead and store them in the refrigerator, in a container filled with water. To keep them from turning brown or becoming mushy when cooked, add some white vinegar (1 Tbsp. per 2 cups water) before submerging the potatoes.

Friday, April 12, 2013

When heating or re-heating items in the oven, line the sheet tray with loosely crumpled aluminum foil for a crispier bottom. The crumpled foil allows for better air circulation and drains off excess oil or juices.

If you are out of pan spray or oil, put a thin layer of mayo on your fish or chicken to help prevent it from sticking to your grill. This also prevents flare-ups so you get very nice grill marks without excess burning.

Don't shock pasta in water after cooking! Take the pasta out a minute or 2 early, drain the water, coat with oil and let cool on a tray. It keeps the starch inside the pasta and helps the sauce stick to the pasta.

Pork chops get a bad rap for being too dry most of the time. A simple solution to this problem is to lightly brown them on both sides and finish them off in the oven for 7-10 minutes at 350 degrees. The browning will lock the juices in, creating a succulent piece of meat.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Does your family go camping?? How about adding pancakes to the mix!! When preparing to leave your home, just fill baggies with the batter, tie off the end and when you are ready, just snip the small ends to use as a piping bag and you are ready to cook! :)

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

There are two methods for removing the build-up that seems to always happen on our trays--unless of course, you use the following methods after every use. If you need to remove the grease for the first time, use either of the methods below:

1. Tea tree oil is AMAZING..leave on for about 1-2 hours then scrub off with a good scrub brush...it WILL take a bit of elbow grease. *In my opinion, this is the most effective method*

2. Use a paste made from hydrogen peroxide and baking soda (premix in bowl then spread over area). Leave on for 2 hours then use scrub brush and rinse.

Most people don't realize how easy it is to refill your plug-in scent oils (Airwick or Febreze)! All you need to do is remove the old wick from the refill (some are harder to pull out so a pair of plyers may be needed), pour in any essential oil of your choice (about 1/3 full) fill the remainder with water, place wick back in and you are done. Talk about a MONEY-SAVER!

*If you are unfamiliar with essential oils, they can be found at your local health store or online.

Yes, this really does work! Covering warts with duct tape eliminates them better than freezing them off, according to a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. In the study, the duct tape eliminated 85% of the warts after 2 months, compared with 60% with the freezing method.

To use duct tape safely, clean the skin area. Then cut a piece of duct tape to a size slightly bigger than the wart. Apply the duct tape to the site and rub into place. Every 3 days, remove the tape and file down dead skin with a pumice stone or nail file. Repeat until the wart disappears. Chemicals in the tape suffocate and kill the wart.

Friday, April 5, 2013

So you've picked your color, but how many gallons will you need for your room? Calculate the wall area of the room; you'll need ONE GALLON FOR EVERY 450 SQUARE FEET.To determine the wall area, multiply the height of each wall by its width (don't subtract for doors and windows unless they take up more than half the wall); total the figures for the walls.

Height x Width = Wall Area

Add 10 percent for future touch-ups. For two coats, double the number.

--If you dust a little flour or cornstarch on a cake before icing it you'll find that the frosting won't run as much. --When frosting a cake , dip the spatula in warm water as well to smooth the icing.
--Also, put a piece of apple in the cake tin to keep your confection's freshness longer!

Some people are deterred from using vinegar as an everyday cleaner because of its initial strong smell. There is a WONDERFUL solution to this problem that will keep you wanting to use it again and again!

Recipe:

-1 Large Jar or Tub with Lid

-2-3 Oranges (depending on the size of your container)--Peels ONLY!

- White Vinegar

**Curl the peels around the inside of the jar. If your oranges are small and you could fit another peel, feel free to add one more. Pour vinegar into the jar to cover the peels and close tightly. Store in the cupboard for TWO WEEKS, then transfer the vinegar to a spray bottle and use for all your cleaning purposes!

You could also try lemon, lime, clementine or mandarin orange peels as alternatives! Yummy! :)

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

I will only use foaming hand soap in my home--mainly because I love the way it feels and it causes much less of mess as it doesnt ever leak. However, it can be costly every time you run out!
That is until I found a solution to making your own at home.

All you need to do is fill the empty bottle 1/4 full with either other handsoap OR dishsoap, then the remaining 3/4s with water. VOILA!

Sometimes you will find that it is difficult to get the last few pumps out if some soap is left at the bottom of a foam soap bottle--simply add a little water and you can use it right up! :)

This will make about 60-70 tabs--you can cut the recipe in half if needed.

Directions:
-Mix all of your dry ingredients together -Slowly add your lemon juice a tablespoon at a time (around 7-8 tablespoons in total)You don't want it to be too wet or too dry
-Fill your ice cube trays
-Let them dry until they are hard and fairly easy to remove.

Monday, April 1, 2013

Many of us may be pouring money down the drain by using too much laundry detergent--even the recommended amount may be too much! So I challenge all of you to use HALF the amount of detergent you normally do and come back to report if you noticed a difference in th cleanliness of your items or not! :)

Washing machines today are much more efficient than the ones your parents used to have and detergents are much more concentrated — so a little goes a long way. Using too much laundry detergent not only wastes money, it can shorten the life of your washing machine and make your clothes stiffer.

I cannot tell you how many times Ive run into the problem of a stubborn dispenser! When this happens, try this trick:
Push the dispenser down while covering the opening with your thumb--this allows for the tube to back up. Repeat if necessary until the lotion or soap dispenses.